Modular perimeter fencing system

Abstract

A fencing system includes a post configured to be anchored to the ground. The post includes a passageway through the post. A rail member, with the post anchored to the ground, is received within the passageway of the post. A length of the rail member extends from the post. The rail member includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The rail member includes a lengthwise opening along the first side of the rail member. With the rail member received within the passageway of the post and the length of the rail member extending from the post, a fence panel is attached at the length of the rail member at the second side of the rail member.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fencing system comprising:
 a post configured to be anchored to the ground and comprising a passageway through the post; 
 a rail member that, with the post anchored to the ground, is received within the passageway of the post, a length of the rail member extending from the post; 
 wherein the rail member comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the rail member comprises (i) a lengthwise opening along the first side of the rail member and (ii) a hole at the second side of the rail member, and wherein the hole is opposite the lengthwise opening; and 
 wherein, with the rail member received within the passageway of the post and the length of the rail member extending from the post, a fence panel is attached at the length of the rail member at the second side of the rail member; and 
 wherein the fence panel is attached to the rail member via a fastener that is disposed through a portion of the fence panel and the hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein, with the post vertically anchored to the ground, the rail member is horizontally oriented within the passageway of the post. 
     
     
       3. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the passageway extends between a first aperture at a first side of the post and a second aperture at a second side of the post, and wherein the fencing system further comprises a sleeve disposed at at least one of the first aperture and the second aperture, and wherein the rail member is received in an opening of the sleeve at the respective aperture of the post. 
     
     
       4. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is non-rotatably disposed at the respective aperture, and wherein the rail member is non-rotatably received in the opening of the sleeve. 
     
     
       5. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve snap attaches at the post. 
     
     
       6. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve comprises a lip that is disposed at the respective side of the post. 
     
     
       7. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve extends within the respective aperture of the post at an oblique angle relative to the respective side of the post. 
     
     
       8. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve comprises a first sleeve disposed at the first aperture and a second sleeve disposed at the second aperture. 
     
     
       9. The fencing system of  claim 3 , wherein (i) the sleeve comprises a plastic material, (ii) the rail member comprises a metal material or a non-conductive material, and (iii) the post comprises a metal material. 
     
     
       10. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the rail member comprises a non-circular cross-section, and wherein the passageway of the post comprises a non-circular cross-section corresponding to the non-circular cross-section of the rail member. 
     
     
       11. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is disposed partially within the rail member. 
     
     
       12. The fencing system of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener. 
     
     
       13. The fencing system of  claim 12 , wherein, with the threaded fastener disposed through the portion of the fence panel and the hole, a threaded nut is disposed along the threaded fastener to attach the fence panel to the rail member. 
     
     
       14. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the fence panel is attached at the length of the rail member at the second side of the rail member via a plurality of fasteners that attach at the second side of the rail member. 
     
     
       15. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein, with the fence panel attached along the length of the rail member, a portion of the fence panel is disposed between a plate and the post. 
     
     
       16. The fencing system of  claim 1 , wherein the post comprises a plurality of passageways spaced apart along the post, and wherein the rail member comprises a plurality of rail members, and wherein, with the post anchored to the ground, each rail member of the plurality of rail members is received within a respective passageway of the plurality of passageways, a length of each rail member extending from the post, and wherein the fence panel is attached along the length of each rail member. 
     
     
       17. A fencing system comprising:
 a first post configured to be anchored to the ground and comprising a first passageway through the first post; 
 a second post configured to be anchored to the ground at a distance from the first post and comprising a second passageway through the second post; 
 a rail member that, with the first post anchored to the ground and the second post anchored to the ground at the distance from the first post, is received within the first passageway of the first post and the second passageway of the second post, a length of the rail member extending between the first post and the second post; 
 wherein the rail member comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the rail member comprises (i) a lengthwise opening along the first side of the rail member and (ii) a plurality of holes at the second side of the rail member, and wherein the plurality of holes are opposite the lengthwise opening; 
 wherein, with the rail member received within the first passageway of the first post and the second passageway of the second post and the length of the rail member extending between the first post and the second post, a fence panel is attached at the length of the rail member between the first post and the second post and at the second side of the rail member; and 
 wherein the fence panel is attached at the second side of the rail member via a plurality of fasteners that are disposed through respective portions of the fence panel and respective holes of the plurality of holes, and wherein the plurality of fasteners are disposed partially within the rail member. 
 
     
     
       18. The fencing system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first sleeve disposed in the first passageway of the first post and a second sleeve disposed in the second passageway of the second post, wherein the rail member is received in respective openings of the first and second sleeves at the respective first and second passageways of the respective first and second posts. 
     
     
       19. The fencing system of  claim 17 , wherein the rail member comprises a non-circular cross-section, and wherein the respective first and second passageways of the first and second posts each comprise a non-circular cross-section corresponding to the non-circular cross-section of the rail member. 
     
     
       20. The fencing system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of threaded fasteners, and wherein, with the plurality of threaded fasteners disposed through the respective portions of the fence panel and the respective holes of the plurality of holes, a plurality of threaded nuts are disposed along the respective plurality of threaded fasteners to attach the fence panel to the rail member. 
     
     
       21. The fencing system of  claim 17 , wherein, with the fence panel attached along the length of the rail member, a first portion of the fence panel is disposed between a first plate and the first post and a second portion of the fence panel is disposed between a second plate and the second post. 
     
     
       22. A fencing system comprising:
 a post configured to be anchored to the ground and comprising a passageway through the post; 
 a rail member that, with the post anchored to the ground, is received within the passageway of the post, a length of the rail member extending from the post; 
 wherein the rail member comprises a substantially C-shaped rail member having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a side joining the upper portion and the lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion extending from the side and being spaced from one another so as to define a lengthwise opening along the length of the rail member, and wherein the side of the rail member comprises a plurality of holes therethrough; 
 wherein, with the rail member received within the passageway of the post and the length of the rail member extending from the post, a fence panel is attached at the length of the rail member at the side of the rail member; and 
 wherein the fence panel is attached at the side of the rail member via a plurality of fasteners disposed through respective portions of the fence panel and through respective holes of the plurality of holes through the side of the rail member. 
 
     
     
       23. The fencing system of  claim 22 , wherein the passageway extends between a first aperture at a first side of the post and a second aperture at a second side of the post, and wherein the fencing system further comprises a sleeve disposed at the first aperture, and wherein the rail member is received in an opening of the sleeve at the first aperture of the post. 
     
     
       24. The fencing system of  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve extends within the first aperture of the post at an oblique angle relative to the first side of the post. 
     
     
       25. The fencing system of  claim 23 , wherein another sleeve is disposed at the second aperture at the second side of the post. 
     
     
       26. The fencing system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of threaded fasteners. 
     
     
       27. The fencing system of  claim 22 , wherein, with the fence panel attached along the length of the rail member, a portion of the fence panel is disposed between a plate and the post.